Monday, March 31, 2008

Lymph Node Learning

The Nurse practitioner said the bump/lump? I have now (which is either a new bump or the other bump moved positions) is probably swollen lymph nodes. She doesn't think it is the salivary gland blocked.

I had my ears pierced around Valentine's Day and one has not healed and has been giving me problems and the last few days, seems to be tender and infected. She said the bump is a sign my body is fighting an infection. (I never knew you had lymph nodes in the center of your neck.) But you do, look below.

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She put me on antibiotics and tested to see what antibiotic are best for me. I have to call back Thursday to make sure I am on the right antibiotic.

She took my earring out to do a swab and ouch. This is my second time trying to have pierced ears. Somehow I thought it would be easier this time since I am healthier. The Nurse Practitioner said if I continue having trouble with that ear, she would suggest I let it heal and not get my ears pierced again.

Hopefully, it will work itself out because I was rather looking forward to wearing pierced earrings instead of clips. There is so much more variety in pierced earrings and I was looking forward to the possibilities of having many options to choose from. (laugh)

The nurse practitioner said if after two weeks the lump hasn't gone away, she needs to refer me to an ENT doctor for a biopsy. I truly hope that little sucker ain't still hanging around in two weeks. I am not even going to give that more thought.

I am thinking positive. I believe my ear will heal, the lump is going to disappear and in two weeks time I will have bought several pairs of new earrings. ;)

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Movie

We went to the theater and saw Drillbit Taylor.
It was funny. I enjoyed it and laughed a lot.

I thought that lump in my neck I had last week had disappeared, only to realize last night that nope, it hasn't disappeared but reappeared now more toward the middle of my neck and it's tender. I've got a doctor's appointment Monday. How odd. I have no idea what that is all about.

I am so happy. I reconnected with my best friend from childhood! We had lost contact.

Have a fun weekend!

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Beautiful day

It is a beautiful day today. We just spent some time outside.The weather is refreshing.

I am feeling much better from the cold I've had.

Last night I made homemade Lasagna for dinner. Tonight I think we will have Chinese take-out.

We got a Japanese pagoda for Calypso our crayfish's aquarium the other day. She often hides in the clay pot caves. She seems to like the pagoda and goes underneath it often. Armando and I found that aquarium too boring and it needed something to make it more interesting.

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Enjoy your day and try to find at least one thing (or more) to smile about! ;)

Monday, March 24, 2008

Brrr

Cold weather has visited us the last few days. I've had a cold with the sniffles and congestion. I've been taking decongestant and cold medicines for a few days now.

I had this weird knot/ball under my jaw on the right in the neck area that I thought was a swollen lymph node maybe because it was sore. I noticed it the evening we flew from Chile home. I went to the doctor and she said maybe it was a blocked salivary gland. Never heard of that before. She told me to give it a few weeks, massage it, put warm compresses on it, take lemon drops and if it did not go away, to set up another appointment and she would do bloodwork and more tests. Luckily, the tenderness has gone away and it is not as big but it is still hard in that area. How odd. Hopefully it will clear itself up.

I've not been in the best of spirits lately but I am sure it is only a matter of time before I snap out of it.

Recently we cleaned out our closets and donated several boxes of clothes. Our closet is in much better shape now. I had so many clothes that I never wore getting in my way.

Currently I am reading the book Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. It is a good book and she makes me smile with her sense of humor and wit.

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Farellones

A few of the last pictures we took before leaving.

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36 sharp curves later and you reach the top.IMGP3813

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Sweet Home Alabama

We arrived home safely yesterday.

The trip was long .While entering Atlanta, we met a line of thunderstorms and had a lot of turbulence and had to cancel our initial landing and fly around a while to the north side of Atlanta for a clearer landing area. I got a bit nervous and later Armando told me that he was trying to make me feel calmer and talk to me but he was nervous too.

Then our connection flight's take-off from Atlanta to Birmingham was stalled a long while after boarding the plane. The plane was with a problem and a maintenance crew had to fix it.

I rested so well last night.

Next Saturday my Aunt and Mom and Dad are throwing us a Welcome Home Party. They want us to have time to rest up first.

Next Sunday is Easter. I want to color some eggs. I haven't done that in forever. I may grill out too. What are your plans?

Here is a tutorial showing how to prepare before decorating to preserve your favorite Easter egg.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Home on Saturday

It has been a nice two month's visit to Chile but I am also looking forward to going home on Saturday to  spend time with family,sleep in my own bed, spend time with our pets,and cook my favorite foods, etc.

My first priority is to go see my Grandmother in Birmingham who is seriously ill. She almost died this weekend but is more stable now. I am sad that she is suffering and in a lot of pain. They are giving her morphine. She is 83 years old.

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

I'm feeling better

I am much better now. Thanks for the sweet comments.

I have ten more days left in Chile before arriving back home to Alabama. My parents tell me there is a chance it may snow tonight where we live.

We had a dentist appt yesterday. We both had two fillings done. Tomorrow, I have one more filling left and cleaning to be done, Armando has two more fillings and our three day dentist marathon will be over with. YAY!

Sunday Gabriel will be baptised and we will have a celebration at Armando's Mom's house afterward.

I've almost finished reading another book. Where are the Children by Mary Higgins Clark.

Today I saw a show on television called The Ice Road Truckers. I think it comes on The History Channel and that is a very scary job!

http://www.history.com/minisites/iceroadtruckers

Enjoy your Sunday!

Monday, March 03, 2008

The F word

Early Sunday morning I awoke with a fever and chills. I couldn't get warm. Later, I got warm and fell back to sleep. Sunday evening I ran a fever again. Last night I sweat a lot. I will try to take my temperature if it happens again, which I hope it doesn't and if it does, I may have to go to see a doctor here.

What a bummer.

Saturday, March 01, 2008

Update

I haven't written in a while. Let me give you an update.

I had a dentist appointment on Thursday.I had not been to the dentist in a while so I was a little nervous and paranoid. I had all these thoughts before getting into the dentist chair about him saying things like OH MY GOD!!! Or some dramatic thing like you have gum disease or need surgery. LOL

But all was ok, except for three little cavities... The dentist was very kind and spoke some in English which was kind. I tried to speak in Spanish too.

The dentist was in the are called Providencia. I like that area. It is very nice. We ate at an Italian restaurant after the dentist as a reward. hehehe A man was playing guitar and singing and Armando joked with me, asking if I wanted my picture taking with the singer and I said NO! I get very shy with things like that.

Since being in Chile, I've read these books.

Here are the books I have read. I enjoyed them all.

My Invented Country by Isabel Allende

My Antonia by Will Cather

The Bonesetter's daughter by Amy Tan

Golden Country by Jennifer Gilmore

Dark Horse by Tami Hoag

We went to Viviana's house tonight and I held Gabriel and enjoyed him. He turned one month old today. Time sure flies!

Monday and Wednesday I have to get those cavities filled...

We've been enjoying time around the house lately. It has been relaxing.

We return home to Alabama in little over two weeks.